Page 20 of A Velvet Kiss After Dark

A growl chuffed in his throat. Relax, he told himself. Where was his trademark restraint? As if he'd ever hurt her. Surely she'd known that after all this time.

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Kane wiped his grin off his face with his palm. She was entertaining, he'd give her that. And a snoop. And a bloody good detective. Was what she said true? Was Lucas and his mate Beth having twins? He'd have to find out. How did she even get this information?

Needing a distraction from Tabitha and all the newfound stress that induced, Kane closed his computer and dug deep into his books on demonarchies. Occasionally he took notes on important facts. Hours passed and with each passing minute the muscles in his neck grew tighter and tighter.

This wasn't looking so good. In fact, it was looking downright exciting. Just how he liked a good fight—with the odds stacked against him. Then, when he won, he'd get to relish in his glorious victory. A true gladiator.

According to the texts, demons came in many different castes and forms. From royalty to warriors to farmers. Their various forms ranged from human-like figures who shapeshifted into extremely powerful horned-beings during war, anger, or sex to differently colored skin tones which denoted a demon's specialty power.

The texts, which had been translated into English (and in some sections very poorly), stated that for the last ten millennia the portal, and all others, had been sealed via powerful magick and closed for eternity.

Until Lesther, the deadly sorcerer who was trying to amass enough power to become a God, opened the Central Park portal. Apparently hunting the Relic of Souls.

Closing one book, he opened another. With some digging he found what he was searching for—The Relic of Souls.

The Relic of Souls was an Ancient Sumerian amulet made of obsidian, gold and jade. It was said to be have been given to a the great Sumerian King Nebuchadnezzar, a divine deity, a true God. Myths stated that the Relic of Souls was worn around the neck by the great king. It protected him from harm. Any who died by his hands had their souls sucked into the amulet through divine intervention.

So the amulet had a collection of souls stored inside it? With each new soul, a black obsidian bead appeared on the gold-plated amulet. And with that would bestow upon the king unlimited powers.

According to the book, the king, after collecting enough souls, could shoot lightning bolts, cause massive storms with a mere thought, could levitate, and slaughter entire armies with nothing more than the sound of the wind.

A chill shot down his arms. Kane shivered and closed the book.

If Lesther wanted this amulet then it must be real and it must be powerful. Kane wasn't sure if he personally believed all the mythological stories around it. They seemed far-fetched to him, but there had to be some truth to it, or Lesther wouldn't want it.

He jotted down some need-to-know points, then shoved the tomes away. Finally, he reached for the last book. A History of Mating, Breeding, and Sexuality of the Werewolf Species.

Feeling his face redden, he glanced around to see if anyone noticed him, but he was all alone, nary a soul nearby. Telling himself to manup, Kane cracked open the book, his eyes wide and hungry for information.

The book was old. Written in 1742. Printed in Italy. He found an index and scanned the chapter headings to find what he was looking for. His heart pounding, adding to his agitation.

Damn but he needed to get his emotions under control. But there would be none of that. His emotions were off the charts chaotic; pulse pounding so hard he could see his shirt twitching.

He opened to the chapter on matings and read.

Two hours later Kane closed the book and sat back in his seat, stunned and a little bit awed at what he'd read.

A werewolf did in fact have one fated mate. One who was alleged to be spiritually, emotionally and physically a perfect match to create a wholesome union. Their genetics when spliced together during breeding times would create perfectly modeled young. Giving them the greatest likelihood of hereditary success. Meaning—a better chance to live longer, healthier lives.

Half the shit he read, he hadn't even known. How could he have? He'd never had any intention of having children—though now the idea seemed . . . intriguing. An image of Tabby flashed in his mind, her stomach firm and rounded, her breasts full from pregnancy—and his cock responded with swift alacrity.

Ah hell no, he thought, quickly scrubbing the thoughts.

He hadn't even bedded her yet, and already he was aroused at the thought of impregnating her?

Panic swelled inside him, fast, hard, and potent. Not no, but hell no.

Yet his beast grumbled at him disagreement. It was quite pleased at the idea of mating with Tabby, of filling her with his babes. His cock throbbed at the thought. It, too, enjoyed the idea.

Ah shit.

The book said his semen could only impregnate a female who was also fertile only during a full moon. During the new moon, was said to bring revelations and new beginnings—it's when most romances began.

Kane couldn't help but check the calendar. Yup. It was the new moon right now. Is that why he felt an even stronger connection to Tabitha? And they'd already had a smoking-hot verve between them.

The book also said that if residing in a pack, pack laws required permission from the alpha to fully claim ones mate. Meaning sex and possession. So that's what Zeke had been talking about.

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